Los Altos: McKenzie Park offer riles residents

More than half a dozen Los Altos residents implored the City Council on Tuesday night to take McKenzie Park off the table as a potential site for an elementary school.

In an April 23 letter to the Los Altos School District Board of Trustees, the council said it was willing to discuss the possibility of opening a new school at either McKenzie or Rosita Park. The offer was spurred by a recent report that found enrollment in the district is at its highest level in 40 years.

The report suggested that two additional sites might be needed, including one to permanently house Bullis Charter School.

Randy Parsons didn't dispute the district's need for more space but said it shouldn't come at the expense of a public park.

"These parks contribute a great deal to the community," the Clinton Road resident told the council. "Without them, the ambiance of the neighborhoods as well as the city in general will be diminished. We should understand that once we lose our parks, they're gone forever."

Derek Pitcher, another Clinton Road resident, agreed. He noted that parks often serve "as a first school for our children."

"It's likely that a park is where children learn the joys of physical activity ... and develop social interaction skills," he said. "Parks are really the foundation for community and neighborhood development. Without them, we lose essential fabric of our shared experiences."

James Yeh, the father of two young children, said McKenzie is frequently used by residents who can't drive.

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"In a lot of cases, we've met either grandparents or other caregivers that are either unable to drive or they don't have the proper car seats so they can't drive the kids to the park, so they walk to the park," he said.

Yeh also rejected the idea touted by some officials that a new school could double as a park.

"While that sounds good on paper, when you take into account that we'd be losing access to the park Monday through Friday, from dawn to dusk, I think it's much more serious than that," he said about the diminished access residents would have when school is in session.

Doug Edwards, meanwhile, urged the council to be more transparent about its dealings with the district.

"Without going into the need for a school vs. the need for a park, I would just encourage the council to make sure that everyone has an opportunity to understand the considerations going into the decision," he said.

The council did not respond to the comments because they came during a portion of the meeting when the public is permitted to address matters that are not on the agenda. However, Mayor Megan Satterlee encouraged residents to check the city's website for information about meetings between the City of Los Altos/Los Altos School District Ad Hoc Committee.

In addition to addressing the council, residents have started an online petition and created a website to save the park (www.savemckenziepark.com).

The council noted in the letter that it is responsible for balancing the needs of the entire community, including the 38 percent of households with someone under the age of 18 and the 36 percent with someone over 65.

"Reducing our already limited park and recreational facilities that serve all residents is not ideal," the letter said.

"However, if we are to pursue repurposing one location, the sites we have identified for discussion will afford us the best opportunity to meet the changing recreational needs and desires of all residents."